Maykel advocates for increased colorectal screenings in T&G op-ed

By Ellie Castano

UMass Medical School Communications

March 04, 2014

Justin Maykel, MD, has been a crusader for colorectal cancer screening for almost a decade and in that time, he has seen related fatalities decline, but nowhere near enough. In an op-ed published in the Telegram and Gazette on March 4, he explains the importance of screening for a cancer that is 90 percent preventable.

“The rates of colon cancer have fallen, but unfortunately they haven't fallen far enough: Colorectal cancer is still the number two cancer killer behind lung cancer. Approximately 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year in the U.S., and 60,000 will die,” wrote Dr. Maykel, associate professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

“If you have not been screened, I urge you to talk to your primary care doctor about screening options and a referral.”